Patents by Inventor Stuart W. Nicol

Stuart W. Nicol has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5462029
    Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine has a plurality of pumping plungers (19) which are housed in respective bores (17). The plungers are movable inwardly in the bores but during such movement one of the plungers moves to an outer position in which a fuel supply passage (21) which communicates with a fuel supply passage (21) which communicates with a fuel outlet (22) is uncovered to the pump working chamber (20) defined at the inner ends of the bores. Each bore has a supply passage associated therewith. A cam ring (25) is provided to impart inward movement of the plungers and the cam ring is provided with cam lobes (26) on its internal peripheral surface however one of the cam lobes is replaced by a recess which allows the plungers to move outwardly in turn so that fuel is distributed to the outlets which in use are connected to the injection nozzles of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Stuart W. Nicol
  • Patent number: 5443048
    Abstract: A rotary distributor type fuel pumping apparatus has two pairs of plungers housed in respective diametrical bores which intersect each other. One of the plungers is longer than the remaining plungers conveniently by providing an extension at its inner end. The extension lies in the paths of movement of the remaining plungers so as to minimize the risk of damage to the plungers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Stuart W. Nicol, Peter A. G. Collingborn, Christopher Stringfellow, Ronald Phillips
  • Patent number: 5340284
    Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine has a drive shaft which is coupled to a rotary part of a high pressure pump. A low pressure pump for supplying fuel to the high pressure pump has a rotor mounted about the drive shaft, a stator and side plates on opposite sides of the stator. The stator has an internal surface engaged by vanes carried by the rotor and one end plate has an arcuate outlet port which is connected to a transfer port formed in the side plate but inwardly of the outlet port. The transfer port is connected by passage means in the rotor with a fuel supply passage in the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Stuart W. Nicol
  • Patent number: 5244354
    Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus has a fixed body in which is defined bores containing pumping plungers. The plungers are moved inwardly by cam lobes on a rotatable cam ring to displace fuel to an associated engine. The cam ring is provided with an annular extension within which is located a drive shaft. The drive shaft is coupled to the extension of the cam ring by means of a tongue and slot connection. The tongue is carried on a push member mounted in the drive shaft and movable by means of a piston and the tongue and slot are arranged so that as the piston moves, relative angular movement will take place between the drive shaft and cam ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Stuart W. Nicol
  • Patent number: 5178524
    Abstract: A rotary distributor type fuel pumping apparatus for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine has a radially disposed plunger located in a radial bore in the distributor member. The plunger is moved inwardly by a cam follower including a shoe engaging the plunger and a roller which engages cam lobes formed on a cam ring surrounding the distributor member. The cam follower is located in a slot in a part rotating with the distributor member and is so arranged that the roller is offset from the plunger in the direction of rotation of the distributor member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventor: Stuart W. Nicol
  • Patent number: 5129380
    Abstract: A fuel injection pump for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine includes a bore containing a cam actuated pumping plunger. The bore is connected to an outlet during inward movement of the plunger and a spill valve including a spill valve member is operable to spill fuel from the bore to prevent delivery of fuel to the associated engine. The spill valve member includes a piston portion slidable in a cylinder to which fuel under pressure from the bore can be admitted to move the spill valve member to the open position against the action of a spring. The admission of fuel under pressure to the cylinder can be effected by an electromagnetically operable valve or by the use of a control sleeve, recesses on the internal surface of which in conjunction with porting in a rotary part of the pump, form a control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Lucas Industries plc
    Inventor: Stuart W. Nicol
  • Patent number: 5044899
    Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus of the rotary distributor type is provided with a spill control muff on the distributor member and which controls flow of fuel from a bore containing the pumping plungers to a chamber. Slidable in the chamber is a spring loaded piston formed with a valve element which controls flow of fuel from the bore into the chamber through a spill passage. With the spill passage closed by the valve element deliver of fuel through an outlet takes place until fuel is admitted to the chamber under the control of the spill muff. The admission of fuel causing the piston to move the valve element to allow fuel into the spill passage through the spill passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventor: Stuart W. Nicol
  • Patent number: 5027776
    Abstract: A rotary distributor type of fuel pumping apparatus has a distributor member 10 mounting cam actuated pumping plungers 14. During inward movement of the plungers an electromagnetically operable valve 32 is operated which when open allows fuel under pressure to open a spill valve 31. The spill valve includes a spring loaded piston 23 which has a projection 22 engageable with a seating to prevent escape of fuel from the pumping chamber. Fuel under pressure is allowed to act on the piston when the valve is opened. The piston is pressure balanced by a plug 27 which is slidable in a drilling 25 in the piston, the drilling being connected by a passage 26 to the pumping chamber. The plug is held against movement and its diameter is substantially equal to the seat area to achieve pressure balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Stuart W. Nicol
  • Patent number: 4969600
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle includes a fuel pressure actuated valve member which is biased into contact with a seating by resilient means. The nozzle also includes a spill valve member having a head which is biased into contact with a seating by the resilient means. The head of the spill valve is lifted from the seating by the application of fuel under pressure to a piston portion of the spill valve member. When the head of the spill valve is lifted from the seating fuel is spilled from the nozzle inlet to a drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventor: Stuart W. Nicol
  • Patent number: 4932632
    Abstract: A fluid control valve includes a plate like valve member movable between a pair of spaced seatings. The seating is formed about a drilling which extends through a valve plate. The valve plate has a further drilling extending therethrough and the two drillings are placed in communication when the valve member is lifted from the seating. The valve plate is located in a recess in a valve body and is urged towards the base wall by an insert. The face of the valve plate presented to the base wall defines two annular recesses, in which are located sealing rings which project into engagement with the base wall. The inner sealing ring forms a coupling space between the drilling and a first passage in the body and the annular space between the sealing rings forms a coupling space between the further drilling and a second passage in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventor: Stuart W. Nicol
  • Patent number: 4572124
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine includes a high pressure injection pump which supplies fuel in timed relationship with an associated engine to an injection nozzle of the engine. A pilot injection device is included in the fuel circuit to the nozzle and includes a shuttle slidable in a cylinder with one end of the cylinder being connected to the pump and the other end to the nozzle. A spring biases the shuttle towards stop means at the one end of the cylinder. In the wall of the cylinder is a pair of spaced ports the first port communicating with a low pressure source and the second port with the pump. The shuttle has a pair of spaced grooves each communicating with the other end of the cylinder. In use, when the pump delivers fuel the shuttle starts to move and displaces fuel to the nozzle until the first groove communicates with the first port. While this communication is established no fuel is supplied to the nozzle and the pressure at the nozzle is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Stuart W. Nicol